Thyratron system



Jan. 9, 1951 B. A. KNAUTH ET AL THYRATRON SYSTEM Filed March 1, 1948 my WW mm m AH DO L 0 A m D E. B W

JJm/mu, uyxm' afi/man =1-Jmm24 97/ E ATTORNEYS the speed of the armature.

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES 'PATNT oFFIcE THYRATRON SYSTEM Berthold A. Knauth, Bolton, N. Y., and Pao Hsiung Chin, Cranford, N. J., assignors. by direct and mesne assignments, to The Motorspeed Corporation, New York, N. Y.

Application March 1, 1948, Serial No. 12,325

(crew-34.5)

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to controlling the firing angle of thyratron tubes in which it has many applications, such as arc-welding, resistance welding, servo mechanisms, the control of the rate of rotation of electric motors, and other applications which will be apparent from the ensuing description.

While the drawings illustrate the system as applied to the control of the rate of rotation of a direct current motor, it willbe apparent that the system has many other applications in industry where similar electrical conditions are desired in operating circuits.

In the particular illustrations which we have shown in the drawings, one of the important objects of the invention is to maintain a constant speed, with automatic compensation for change in the load imposed on the motor. A particular use for this system is to maintain a constant speed in, for instance, a pumping mechanism, where the motor may be subjected to varying loads by reason of the change in viscosity of the liquid which is being pumped.

It is well known that a counter E. M. F. is generated in the armature conductors of a D. C. motor when thearmature is rotating so as to cut lines of magnetic flux as from a stationary magnetic field, and that when the magnetic field is unvarying the magnitude of this counter E. M. F. is approximately in direct proportion to The same phenomenon is in effect in a circuit where the armature is supplied with unidirectional pulses of current from an alternating-potential source through a grid-controlled gaseous-discharge rectifier tube and where the motor field is separately excited from a constant-potential source of direct current. However, in such a circuit the potential applied to the anode-cathode circuit of the rectifier tube is the difference between the potential of the power source and the counter E'. M. F. across the terminals of the armature, hence conduction of the rectifier can be started only during that portion of the positive half-cycle of the alternating-potential power source when the anode of the tube is positive with respect to its cathode. Once conduction of the rectifier is started, and because of the inductance of the armature winding, the rectifier may remain conductive for a period of time after the potential of the alternating-potential source becomes nega- "tive. Neglecting the voltage drop across the rectifier tube, during conduction the wave form of the terminal voltage of the armature assumes the age approaches in value the generated counter E. M. F., starting from a level of the instantaneous potential of the alternating potential power source at the instant of cessation of conduction and approaching the counter E. M. F. level with a continuously decreasing rate of change of potential. The fact of the armature terminal voltage approaching the counter F. value slowly, after conduction ceases, is due to characteristics of the electro-magnetic circuit of the motor armature itself.

The circuit of this invention relies, for itself.- regulating motor-speed characteristics, on the following as well as other conditions and characteristics: (a) the use of the armature terminal voltage as a measure of speed at a time when no current flows into the'armature and when, therefore, this voltage should be the counter E. M. F. potential proportional to true speed, and (b) the inherent modification of this armature terminal voltage, at a time when no current flows into the armature, by the residual electromagnetic efiect of the current which has just ceased to flow.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved thyratron regulator circuit for direct current motors that is adapted for use particularly with motors requiring relatively small armature currents, say. the fractional I-I. P. sizes. I

Another object of this invention is t provide a thyratron regulator circuit for direct current motors in which the grid phase shifting circuits for the thyratron utilize and inherently smooth out the wave forms of the motor armature and field voltages.

Another object of this invention is to provide cuit of this invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic wiring diagram of another embodiment of the thyratron regulator-circuit of this invention. Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of the circuit shown in Figure 2 in which a resistor is con;-

nested in series with the motor armature and the cathodes of the thyratrons to improve the speed-regulation characteristics of the circuit.

In Figures 1 and 2 there are illustrated thyratron circuits for controlling direct current motors. These circuits are provided with power from an A. C. supply having a relatively constant potential. This A. C. supply is connected to the primary 2 of the transformer 3.

In this electronic motor control circuit the armature ll] of the motor is supplied with undir ctional current pulses during both the positive and negative portions of the alternating current cycle of the power supply. This is accomplis ed by connecting: one side of the armature H! of the direct current motor to the center tap H of the transformer secondary l2. The other side of the motor armature I ll is connected to the cathode of the thyratrons l3 and I4, these cat odes being connected together. The anodes of the thyratrons I3 and M are connected to the opposite ends of the transformer secondary i2 so that these thyratrons function as diametric (full wave) -rectifiers inasmuch as they are connected to rectify alternate halves of the alternating current cycle.

The primary I5 of the transformer Iii is connect d to the secondary l2 of the transformer 3 although. of course, this primary i5 may be connect d across the primary 2 of the trans former 3 and the primary l5 may be di pensed with entirely by providing the transformer 3 with another winding corresponding to the secondary winding l1.

7, The secondary ll of the transformer I6 is in ductively coupled to the primary l5 and the ends 01' this secondary are connected to a pair of phase shifting circuits including the resistors l8 and 20 and the capacitors l9 and 2|. One terminal of the resistor i8 is connected to one end of the secondary i1, and the other terminal is connected to one side of the capacitor is and to one end of the grid current limiting resistor 22. The other end of this resistor 22 is con-- nected to the grid of the thyratron l3. Likewise the resistor 20 is connected between the lower end of the secondary l1 and the ca acitor 2! and the grid current limiting resistor 23. The other end of the resistor 23 is connected to the grid of the thyratron I4.

I The center tap Ha of the secondary i! is connected to the variable contact of the potentiometer 25, and the junction between the capacitors l9 and 2| is connected to the center tan I! of the secondary I2. One side of the winding of the potentiometer 25, and one side of the motor field windin 25, are connect d together and to the cathodes of the rectifier tubes 2'1! and 23. The anodes of these rectifier tubes 2'! and 28 are connected to the ends of the secondary winding 12, that is, the anode of the rectifier tube 2? is connected to one end of the secondary l2 and the anode of the rectifier 28 is connected to the other end of the secondary !'2'.

In Figure 2 of the drawing a modified form of this invention is illustrated and in this figure the parts corresponding to the parts of Figure '1 are designated by the same reference numerals. The embodiment of this invention shown in Figure 2 is the same as that shown in Figure I except that the junction between the capacitors l9 and 2| is connected by the wire- 29 to the wire 3% joining the cathod s of the thyratrons i3 and [4 instead of to the lower end *of the armature H] of the direct current motor.

A further modified form of this circuit is shown in Figure 3 in which the junction between the capacitors it and ti is connected to the crush of the armature IQ of the direct in. motor by the conductor 3| and through the resistor 32 to the cathodes of the thyratrons l3 and i i. The complete wiringdiagram is not shown in Figure 3 inasmuch as thi diagram is the same as Figures 1 and 2 except as described above.

thyratrons i3 and M function as grid controlled gaseous rectifiers for rectifying the output of the transformer secondary i2 and for this purpose "be anodes of these thyratrons l3 and are connected to the respective ends of the secondary i2. The cathodes of the thyratrons are connected together and to the upper ir rush of the motor armature NJ. The lower crush of this motor armature is connected to the center tap i i of the secondary i2 so that when the thyratrons and i i are firing the motor armaid receives direct current pulses from the upper and lower halves of the secondary l2 during alternate half cycles.

The field current for the motor field 25 is also derived from the secondary l2 through the diode rectifiers ,5? and 28, the anodes of which are connected to the respective ends of the secondary 2: and the cathodes of which are connected toc he upper terminal of the field 26. The lower terminal 0:? this field is also connected to the center tan 3 i of the secondary l2. The rectifiers ii 28 also supply a direct current.

voltage across the potentiometer 25 that is used for controlling the firing of the thyratrons l3 and M so that the current through the armature is may be controlled. As a result the speed of the motor may be manually controlled by manipulating the variable contactor of the potentiometer 25.

These circuits allow both armature and field of the D. C. shunt motor to be supplied from the mid-tanned winding of the A. 0. supply. In these instances, the mid-tap of the transformer winding becomes the negative D. C. terminal common to both armature and field.

To avoid using auxiliary sources of D. C. for grid control of the thyratron tubes supplying the armature, it is desired to use the relatively constant voltage of the field winding by connecting a potentiometer, 25, across this winding and utilizing the voltage from slider to negativeend H as the adjustment by which to pre-set the level of armature voltage.

In embodi" .t of this invention shown in Figure the di or current voltage derived from the potentiometer is ineffect applied between the center tap il s of the secondary l1 and the junction between the capacitors l9 and 2| while the armature id or" the motor is connected between the junction of the capacitors l9 and 2| and the cathodes of the thyratrons I3 and I4. tap of the secondary i2 is connected to the junction of the capacitors l9 and 2|. In this way the counter E. M. F. of the armature III is applied between the cathodes of the thyratrons i2 and M and the capacitors l9 and 2| so that it can function as part of the grid bias of the thyratrons.

In Figure 1, the direct potential of potentio eter 25, adjustable magnitude by setting of the potentiometer slider, is introduced into the grid-cathode circuit of the thyratrons by being caused to appear as a D. C. component across capacitors l9 and 2!. This is accomplished by virtue'of the fact that the two halves of the mid-tapped winding ll of auxiliary transformer |6 constitute two arms of a bridge circuit of which the other two arms are those including resistor l8 in series with capacitor l9 and capacitor 2| in series with resistor 20. This being a balanced bridge circuit, there is zero alternating potential between the points Ila on the transformer winding and point II, the junction of the two capacitors I9 and 2|. So, if adirect potential is impressed across these points, this potential will appear across each capacitor H! and 2| and in such polarity that if the applied potential is positive on point Ila relative to point I I, the capacitor terminals connected to point II will each be negative and the other terminals, connected to the resistors, will be positive. And, vice versa. In addition to this D. C. component which is caused to appear across each capacitance, there will be a quadrature lagging A. C. component, of relatively small magnitude, caused by the alternating potential of winding I! being impressed. in the series R. C. circuit comprising resistor I8, capacitance l9, capacitance 2| and resistor 29. The net result of the A. C. plus D. C. components across the capacitances is to produce a grid phase control action as the D. C. component is caused to be varied in magnitude.

.In Figure 1 the complete grid-to-cathode circuit of each thyratron consists of the armature terminal voltage, in a degenerative or regulating sense of polarity, in series opposition to the voltage across the phase control capacitance H! or 2|, which voltage is therefore of a tune-on sense of polarity, and in series with the current limiting grid resistance 22 or 23. Thus, the D. C. component across the capacitances l9 and 2| pre-determine the armature voltage level at which the circuit tends to regulate or tends to maintain the armature voltage approximately equal to the D. C. component. Of course, at the time the armature terminal voltage is being compared with the voltage across capacitance l9 or 2| to determine the firing point of the thyratrons, there is no current flowing into or out of the armature and hence the terminal voltage is only C. E. M. F. proportional speed and modified as a function of armature current by the inherent characteristics of its induction electromagnetic circuit as has been explained.

In the circuit shown in Figure 2 the counter E. M. F. of the armature ID of the motor can also function as part of the grid bias of the thyratrons since the armature I9 is connected in series with the lower portion of the potentiometer 25 between the center tap Ila of the secondary l1 and the junction of the ca acitors I9 and 3|. The junction of the capacitors l9 and 2| is connected by the conductor 29 to the cathodes of the thyratrons I3 and It so that the voltages across the capacitors |9 and 2| of the phase shifting circuits are applied between the cathodes and grids of the thyratrons l3 and M, respectively.

Figure 2 differs from Figure 1 in that the direct potential impressed between points Ila and 29 (29 being the junction of the two capacitances .I9 and 29) is the difference between the armature terminal voltage and the pre-set reference voltage of the potentiometer 25. This difference in voltage is caused to appear across capacitances I9 and 2|, in a manner previously explained, and in addition to the quadrature lagging A. C. component as previously mentioned. Thus, the

difference between armature terminal voltage and pre-set reference voltage becomes the only D. C. component on capacitances l9 and 2|. Now, the grid-to-cathode circuit of each thyratron merely becomes the capacitance voltage of I9 or 2|, in series with current limiting resistances 22 or 23. The regulating action by which the armature voltage, in a degeneration or turnoff or regulating sense-of-potential, is compared with a reference potential, which has a turn-on sense-of-potential, is done outside of the gridto-cathode circuit of the thyratron and the result of this comparison, the difference or error between the actual voltage and the reference voltage, is introduced into the thyratron grid circuits via capacitances l9 and 2| instead of this difference being compared within the gridcathode circuits as in Figure 1. The regulating action of this circuit will differ from that of Figure 1 in that there is a tendency for the armature voltage to be compared with the reference voltage during the whole 'of the A. C. cycle instead of just during the periods of non-conduction and thus the signal of speed is not only C. E. M. F. with its inherent regenerative modification due to inductive electromagnetic carry-over as a function of the amount of the armature current but also includes the IR drop of the armature in a degenerative sense.

By connecting the armature I0 and the potentiometer 25 between the capacitors 9 and 2| and the center tap Ila of the secondary H, the capacitors I9 and 2| and the resistors l8 and 20 function as a filter for smoothing out the wave forms of the voltages derived from. the motor armature and field terminals.

The circuit shown in Figure 3 employing the resistor 32 between the cathodes of the thyratrons i3 and I4 and the armature H! improves the speed-regulations characteristics of the circuits shown in Figures 1 and 2. In thiscase the voltage across the portion of the potentiometer 25 between the variable contactor thereof and the lower terminal of the potentiometer winding is applied in series with the counter E. M. F. of the armature I0 between the center tap Ila of the transformer I1 and the junction of the capacitors l9 and 2|. The upper brush of the armature Hi and the resistor 32 are connected by the conductor 3| to the junction of the capacitors l9 and 2| so that the voltage drop across this resistor 32 also forms part of the grid bias of the thyratrons I3 and M. This voltage drop is proportional to the direct current flowing through the armature I0 and tends to make the conductor 3| negative with respect to the thyratron cathodes.

The circuit of Figure 2 is modified in Figure 3, which includes a degenerative IR. drop of resisttance 32 in the grid-to-cathode circuits of the thyratrons in addition to the voltage across capacitance l9 or 2| as in Figure 2. This degenerative-sense voltage drop proportional to armature current across resistance 32 serves to additionally compensate for any excessive regenerative effect associated with this same armature current as evidenced by the inductive electro-magnetic effect inherent in the armature circuit. sense, the use of resistance 32 performs much the same function as the R. C. circuit across the ar-.

mature wherein the tailored voltage across C was used instead of the whole armature voltage to compensate for this excessive turn-on effect proportional to armature current.

In all these circuits, Figures 1, 2, 3, the ad- In this justrhent of resistances i8 and 20" serves as a means of varying the magnitude of the A. C. quadrature component across the capacitances l9 and 21 and serves as an additional means of balancing thetwo' circuits so as to fire the thyraeehs'anke during their respective half-cycles of the" supply voltage.

While we have shown our system as applied in the control of a direct current motor it will be obvious that the system is useful in many other connectionsiand that the immediate application has been illustrated' and described merely to i1- lustrate theinvention. We desire that our invention' be limited only by the scope of the appendedclailns and the showing of the prior art.

We claim:

1.,A thyratron control system for direct ourrentmotorscomprising a pair of thyratrons each having" an anode, a grid and a cathode, a direct current motor having a field'winding an armature, one side of said armature being conriected to said thyratron cathodes, a phase shifting circuit connected to the grid of each of said thyratrons, a transformer having connections for connecting the center can of the secondary thereof to the other side of said motor armature, connections for connecting the ends of said secondary, to said thyratron anodes, a source of di rect current for said motor field winding and a means for applying at least a part of the voltage across said field winding in ser es with the thyratron grid phase shifting circuits.

2 ,,A thyratron control system for controlling adirect current motor comprising a thyratron having anode, a grid and a cathode, a direct current motor having an armature connected in series with said thyratron across an alternating current supply, a phase shifting circuit connected to said thvratron grid. a transformer connected to said alternating current supply and to said phase shifting circuit, a rectifier connected to said alternating current supply for supplying direct current to the field of said motor, a potentiometer connected across said motor field winding, and connections for connecting the variable contactor of said potentiometer to the secondary of said transformer for controlling the grid bias potential of said thyratron to apply at least a part of the voltage across said field winding in series with said thyratron grid phase shifting circuit.

3. A thyratron control system for controlling a direct current motor comprising a thyratron having an anode, a grid and a cathode, a direct current motor having a field winding and armature, said armature being connected in series with said thyratron across an alternating current supply a phase shifting circuit connected to said thyratron grid, a transformer connected to said alternating current supply for supplying potential to said phase shifting circuit, a rectifier connected to said alternating current supply for supplying'direct current to the field of said motor, a, resistor connection in series with said motor armature, and connections for connecting the junction of said resistor and said armature to said phase shifting circuit to control speed-regulation characteristic of the motor.

4. A thyratron control system for direct current' motors comprising a pair of thyratrons each having an anode, a grid and a cathode, said thyratronshaving the cathodes connected together, a transformer having a center tapped secondary, the ends or said secondary being'connected to the anodes of said thyratrons,'a motor having an armature connected between the oathodes of said thyratrons and the center tap 0f said secondary, ph shifting circuits connected to the grids of thyratrons, a field winding for said motor, a source of direct current for said field winding, a potentiometer connected across said field Winding, one end of said field winding being connected to said center tap of said secondary and to one end of the armature'ofsaid: motor and to phase shifting circuit, a sourceof alternating current potential connected to, said phase shifting circuits and means for connecting the variable contactor of said potentiometer to said source of alternating current potential.

5. A thyratron control system for controlling a direct current .tcr comprising a pair of. thyratrons ea ng anode, a grid and a cathode, a direct :rent motor having a field, winding and armature armature being connected in series w said thyratrons across an alternating current supply, a phase shifting circuit connected to sa d thyratron grids, a trans-, former connected. to d alternating current sup-. ply for supplying potenti l to said phase shifting circuit, a rectifier connected to said alternat- 'cnt supply for supplying direct current eld of said resistor connection sa d motor armature, and connections for conne the junction of said resistor and said armature to said phase shiftingcircuit to control speewregulation characteristic of the motor.

6. A thyratron control system forcontrolling a direct current motor comprising apain of thyratrons each having an anode, a grid, and a cathode, a direct 0 ."rent motor having an arma-, ture with its positive to ninal connectedto the cathodes of the thyratrons, a first transformer,

with a secondary having each connected to an anode of the thyratrons a second transformer, the primary the second transformer beingconnected across the secondary or" the first trans: former, a phase slritig circuit connected to the ends ofthe second J of the second transformer, said phase shifting circuit being connected .to the grids of the thyratrons, a rectifier connected .to an end of the secondary of the first transformer to supply direct current to the field of the motor, a center tap on the secondary or" the first trans; former connected to the negative terminals of the field and the re of the motor, a po-, tentiometer connected cross the field ofrthe. mow tor, and means connec the variable contactor of the potentiometer h a center tapon thesece ondaryof the second transformer for controlling the grid bias of the thyr trons. H B RTHOLD A. KNAUTH. PAO I-ISIUNG CHIN.

cITED The following references are of record in the file or" this patent:

UNITED S'IAIES PATENTS 

